Lian Tanner is a playwright and award-winning author of books for young readers, including the Keepers series and the Icebreaker series. Museum of Thieves and City of Lies, the first two books of the Keepers series, both won the Aurealis Award for Children’s Fiction. Her work is available in seven foreign languages. Prior to working as a writer, she was a professional actor and freelance journalist. She lives in Tasmania.
Jill Grinberg
Petrel is an outcast on the ancient ship, an icebreaker, that has been following the same course for 300 years. In that time, the ship’s crew has forgotten its original purpose and broken into three warring tribes. Everyone has a tribe except Petrol. Nicknamed the Nothing Girl, Petrel has been ostracized ever since her parents were thrown overboard as punishment for a terrible crime.
But Petrel is a survivor. She lives in the ship’s darkest corners, and trusts no one except two large gray rats—that is, until a mysterious boy is discovered barely alive on an iceberg, and brought onto the ship. He claims to have forgotten even his name. The tribes don’t trust strangers, so Petrel hides the boy, hoping he will be her friend. What she doesn’t know is that the ship guards a secret—a secret the boy has been sent to destroy.
Praise for Icebreaker
“This new trilogy will bait readers with its intriguing premise, hook them with its starkly beautiful setting, and reel them in with its fascinating characters. . . . An artfully crafted adventure that’s equal parts thought-provoking and thrilling.” –Kirkus, starred review
“Non-stop action against a magical backdrop; this is a wonderful world to get lost in.”―Catherine Jinks, author of the Evil Genius trilogy
Feiwel & Friends
August 18, 2015
Middle Grade
Adventure
Margaret Connolly & Associates
Sharkey is a Sunker—he was born on a fortunate tide, and everyone in the giant submersible Rampart knows it. The trouble is his life is based on a lie. He’s been a fake hero for years, but when tragedy strikes, he must become a real one. And he has no idea how to go about it.
Meanwhile, on land, Petrel, Fin, and the crew of the Oyster are on a mission to bring lost knowledge back into the world, a mission they have no idea how to carry out.
Praise for Sunker’s Deep
“…Tanner skillfully weaves the three plotlines together in a tense narrative that not only explores the characters’ often conflicting motives but keeps pages turning… Suspenseful and thought provoking, this offering stresses the importance of education and knowledge as weapons against fear and tyranny. Fans will relish this return adventure.” –School Library Journal, starred review
“Adventures abound in this exciting page-turner that will keep readers on the edge of their seats as they await volume three.” –Booklist
Feiwel & Friends
August 16, 2016
Middle Grade
Adventure
Margaret Connolly & Associates
Gwin is a Fetcher. With her papa and twin brother, Nat, she travels West Norn, bringing joy to its downtrodden people through song and story. But ever since Mama died, it’s been hard to keep the joy alive.
Proud and defiant, Fetchers have always been hunted by the Devouts for preserving the old ways. So when devious Brother Poosk captures Papa, Gwin must rescue him—whatever the cost.
Meanwhile, the Oyster‘s crew and the Sunkers lay siege to the Citadel. But without their Sleeping Captain, can they ever win against the ruthless Devouts? Can Petrel, Fin, Sharkey, and Rain ever bring light back to such a dark world?
Praise for Battlesong
“Tanner’s unparalleled world-building seamlessly weaves Gwin’s tale into a complex narrative told from multiple perspectives. The author provides just enough backstory to keep new readers engaged and the action moving toward a thrilling ending that unites characters from all three installments. . . . Masterly writing brings the stark landscape to life and reveals characters’ deepest emotions.” –School Library Journal
Feiwel & Friends
August 15, 2017
Middle Grade
Adventure
Margaret Connolly & Associates
Welcome to the tyrannical city of Jewel, where impatience is a sin and boldness is a crime.
Goldie Roth has lived in Jewel all her life. Like every child in the city, she wears a silver guardchain and is forced to obey the dreaded Blessed Guardians. She has never done anything by herself and won’t be allowed out on the streets unchained until Separation Day.
When Separation Day is canceled, Goldie, who has always been both impatient and bold, runs away, risking not only her own life but also the lives of those she has left behind. In the chaos that follows, she is lured to the mysterious Museum of Dunt, where she meets the boy Toadspit and discovers terrible secrets. Only the cunning mind of a thief can understand the museum’s strange, shifting rooms. Fortunately, Goldie has a talent for thieving.
Which is just as well, because the leader of the Blessed Guardians has his own plans for the museum—plans that threaten the lives of everyone Goldie loves. And it will take a daring thief to stop him. . . .
Museum of Thieves is a thrilling tale of destiny and danger, and of a courageous girl who has never been allowed to grow up—until now.
Praise for The Keepers trilogy
“Bring on the teeming sequels…” –Kirkus
“Readers will be quickly caught up in the highly dramatic chases, the intriguing museum that shifts layout at will, and the nifty otherworld elements. Recommended.” –BCCB
“The storytelling remains just as accomplished and the tantalizing mysteries deepen…” –The Horn Book
Delacorte Books for Young Readers
September 28, 2010
Middle Grade
Adventure
Margaret Connolly & Associates
Goldie Roth is a trained thief and a skilled liar. Along with her friend Toadspit, she’s supposed to be one of the Keepers of the mysterious Museum of Dunt. But although she desperately wants to be a Keeper, she will not leave her sick parents to do so.
But when Toadspit’s sister Bonnie is stolen, he and Goldie are forced to follow the child-stealers to the neighboring city of Spoke. Along the way, Toadspit too is captured, and Goldie is caught up in the Festival of Lies, where every word she says means something else and no one can be trusted. There, Goldie discovers some dangerous secrets—secrets that the child-stealers will kill to protect. She will need all her skills as a thief and a liar if she is to survive and save her friends.
Praise for The Keepers trilogy
“Bring on the teeming sequels…” –Kirkus
“Readers will be quickly caught up in the highly dramatic chases, the intriguing museum that shifts layout at will, and the nifty otherworld elements. Recommended.” –BCCB
“The storytelling remains just as accomplished and the tantalizing mysteries deepen…” –The Horn Book
Delacorte Books for Young Readers
September 27, 2011
Middle Grade
Adventure
Margaret Connolly & Associates
Do you dare to join Goldie in her hardest task ever as she walks down the mysterious Beast Road, deep inside the Museum of Thieves? No one knows where it goes and no one has ever returned from it.
The city of Jewel is in peril once again, as it is held captive by the frightful Fugleman, his band of Blessed Guardians, and an army of merciless mercenaries. There’s no doubt that Goldie and Toadspit want to get their city back, but how can a small group of children fight against such overwhelming forces of evil? And how, as Goldie is determined, can they avoid bloodshed in a war that will set thieves against soldiers, and trickery and deception against a mighty cannon that shoots cannonballs bent on destruction? As Toadspit fights the Fugleman in a duel to the death, Goldie must face her hardest task yet. If she is to save the city, she must walk the mysterious Beast Road, deep inside the Museum of Thieves. No one knows where it goes and no one has ever returned from it.
Praise for The Keepers trilogy
“Bring on the teeming sequels…” –Kirkus
“Readers will be quickly caught up in the highly dramatic chases, the intriguing museum that shifts layout at will, and the nifty otherworld elements. Recommended.” –BCCB
“The storytelling remains just as accomplished and the tantalizing mysteries deepen…” –The Horn Book
Delacorte Books for Young Readers
October 9, 2012
Middle Grade
Adventure
Margaret Connolly & Associates
